Walking-staff.



W. A. L. HOFF. WALKING STAFF. APPLICATION. EILED 05c. 22, m5.

Patented June 6, 1916.

R m7 m f V m E S E n N u w ATTORNEY w. A. L. HOFF. WALKING. STAFF. APPLICATION flLD DEC. 22. 191,5.

1,185,906. PatentedJune 6, 1916.

. 2 SHEETSSHEET Z- ATTORNEY WITNESSES WELDON A. L. HOFF, OF EDMOND, OKLAHOMA.

WALKING-STAFF.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented June 6, 1916.

Application filed. December 22, 1915. Serial No. 68,263.

T a all whom it may concern Be it known that I, Walloon A. L. Horr,

a citizen of the UnitedStates, residing at' Edmond, in the county of Oklahoma and State of Oklahoma, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in l Valking- Staves, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to an improved walking stall and the principal object of the invention is to provide a stall which can be used by a person having one leg shorter than the other or who has one knee stifi so that leg is continually bent and thus the foot held off of the ground.

Another object of the invention is to pro vide improved means for releasably connect in the staff with the injured leg'so that it wi l be firmly held in place but at the same time easy to remove when desired.

Another object of the invention ,is to so construct this staff that it will not inconvenience the user and to further so construct the device that practice is not necessary in order to properly operate the same.

This invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein Figure 1 is a view showing the staff in place and illustrating the manner of connecting the same with the injured leg. Fig. 2 is a view in elevation of the staff. Fig. 3 is a view of the upper strap forming part of the connecting means for the stall. Fig. 4 is an edge view of the strap shown in Fig. 3. Figs. 5 and 6 are views of the lower portion of the securing device forming part of the invention.

The staff which forms part of this improved device is provided with a tube 10 having a core 11 of rubber or other material mounted in its lower end portion and releasably held in an adjusted position by means of the screws 12. The upper portion 13 of the stall is formed of wood and fits into the sleeve or tube 10. a screw 14 being provided to hold the upper portion 13in place. By moving the upper portion 13 into or out of the tube 10, the staff can be made the proper length and then the screw 14 put in place to hold it at the proper length. An eye bolt 15 is carried by the Wooden extension 1;), a. ferrule 16 being provided to prevent the wooden extension from being cracked or broken when putting the eye bolt in place. The foot rest 17 is connected with the tube 10 at the proper place to receive the foot, the stud being held in place .by bolts 18 which pass through the tube and also through collars 19 provided to strengthen the tube at the points where the stud is connected.

The attaching means for connecting the staff with the injured leg will now be described. This includes a brace 20 which is substantially L-shaped as clearly shown in Fig. '1 and is securely connected with the injured 21 above and below the knee and about the thigh. The upper collar fits about the thigh and is held in place by straps which engage buckles Zat. This collar is put in place as shown in Fig. i and provided with a pocket 125 Mich receives the reduced upper end po Lion 26 of brace 20 thus securely holding end tion of the brace in place. A. 27 is cured to the collar and carries a hook 28 which passes through eyes 15 thus not only releasably connecting the stall with the attaching means but t6 a certain extent pivotally mounting the stall so that it can have sufficient movement to permit of easy walking. The enlarged and transversely curved end portion 29 of this brace 20 fits about the calf of the leg and is held in place by strap 30. This strap 30 is doubled intermediate its length and has one end por tion 31 passing around the leg above the knee and the opposite end portion 32 passing around the calf of the leg nd connected with the button 33. in ad ting element 34 is provided so that the tightness of end portion 31 may be controlled.

VVheu in use the brace is connected with the injured in the manner shown clearly in Fig. l and after the staff has been ad- 'iusted to the proper size and the screw 14: it in pl- -e. the stall is connected with the tube 10 v at it will be at the proper height for the foot. The staff can then be connect ed with hooks 28 and after the foot has been put in foot rest 17 the staff will more with the ieg and the wearer can walk very easily and without becoming tired. This device is so constructed that it can be easily and quickly taken off or put in place and therefore the wearer will not need anyone to assist him i *ljusting the device and putiore provided a walking device for a person with one leg bent so that it will not touch the ground. the device being so constructed that it will be easy to handle.

and both strong and durable. l have further provided a device for the purpose specified which is so constructed that the strain is distributed over a relatively large portion of the injured leg and therefore does not cause any excessive strain at one point.

What is claimed is 1. A device of the character described comprising a staff, and leg engaging means including a brace, means for connecting the lower portion of said brace with the calf of the leg and with the leg at a point above the knee, means for connecting the upper portion of said brace with the leg at a point intermediate the knee and hip, and means carried by said last mentioned means for engaging said staff.

2. A device of the character described comprising a staff, andmeans for connecting said staff with the leg of the user, said connecting means including a brace conforming to the contour of the leg, means for connecting the lower portion of said brace with the leg above and below the knee, means for connecting the upper portion of the brace with the leg adjacent the hip, and means for releasably connecting said staff with said last mentioned means.

3. A device of the character described comprising a staff, and means for connecting said stafi with the leg of the user, said means including a brace, leg encircling means for connecting the lower portion of said brace with the leg of the user, leg encircling means for connecting the upper portion of said brace with the' leg of the user, and means carried by said upper leg encircling means for engaging said stafi. 4. A device of the character described comprising a staff, and means for connecting said staff with the leg of the user, said connecting means comprising a brace, means for connecting said brace with the leg. of the user, and means for connecting said staff with said last mentioned means.

5. A device of the character described comprising a staff, a collar for fitting about the leg of the user and provided with a means for connecting the lower end portion of said brace with the leg of the user.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

WELDON A. L. HOFF.

Witnesses:

R. S. Woonnnmen, W, L. P. BURNER.

flopiel of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

' Washington, D. c." 

